by Lance Wilson
“Why don’t you kill me?” Griffin asks calmly wondering what is stopping him.
“There is only one more thing required to obtain total peace, a strong heart to empathize with people, like yours. You’re too pure, too kind. But I guess that’s what gives you the right to live. Just watch me, I’m going to live, right to the bitter end” Attonnan says and begins to walk toward the door right into the thrown room.
“Attonnan” Griffin says shocked at what was just said, does this mean he thinks he himself doesn’t deserve to live.
“I’ll live the hard life of a warrior” Attonnan says his voice calm and cool
“Attonnan stop it” Griffin says his act of suicide reminding him too much of his brother Mellyruna
“Tell we meet again Mellyruna” Attonnan says and with that opens the door to his final opponent, Mecmed, and his final fate.
Attonnan walks into the thrown room to see that it is littered with dead bodies, some missing limbs some split in two, the whole place is a graveyard of his madness Mecmed has slain his own men in his fury of there failure to repel the rebel forces. Attonnan only draws his blade as he walks through the mess. Sitting on the thrown is Mecmed, but he has changed, something has possessed him He is now easily 8 feet tall and 400 pounds of pure muscle. He is wearing only a belt and pants, and holding a large and wide sword that easily the size of Attonnan. Attonnan pays this no attention and goes in for his attack, a charge attack. He gets close enough and Mecmed easily evades it allowing Attonnan’s blade to cleave into the thrown, jumping behind him Mecmed goes for a slash that would take his whole upper body off, but Attonnan is fast enough to wretch his blade from the thrown and roll away.
“What the hell was that?” Attonnan says in shock, for the first time he feels he might be in over his head.
“You avoided my attack successfully, well done” Mecmed says and chuckles flexing his new muscles.
Without warning Mecmed goes in for a downward strike, Attonnan can only barely get his blade up in time and the force of the blow drops him to his knees. But Mecmed doesn’t stop there, again and again he hammers at the blade, some overhead strikes, some sideways slashes, but each time the blow knocks Attonnan around like a rag doll. After one of the blows knocks him to his knees he goes for a slash, but Attonnan ducks the blow, the blade hits a pillar in the room and Attonnan watches as the blow crushes the pillar. Attonnan quickly rolls out of the way as Mecmed goes in for another attack, once back on his feet and Mecmed goes for a sideswipe. Attonnan brings his blade up to block but the force of the blow slams Attonnan into a wall making him let out a huge cough and blood sprays on the ground. He then drops to his knees coughing, more blood spraying with each cough, his eyes lock with Mecmed as his grip tightens on his blade.
“Impressive” Mecmed says smiling at him
“It’s a monster.” Attonnan says gathering his breath once again.
“In the passing of years not a single warrior has been able to defend against my attack, except you” Mecmed says smiling at Attonnan; this is quite the treat for him.
Ever since he found the necklace given to Mellyruna by the Fuma clan he has indulged in this new form and strength, no one can stand against him. The necklace dangling against his flesh even now.
Attonnan watches as Mecmed takes a relaxed strategy with the fight. He is not surprised this man is stronger then any swordsman he has fought before but he knows that his strength is not human. Still all he has been able to do is defend himself. The only thing saving his life so far is his blade; this means that the strength of their blades is the same at least. Slowly Attonnan gets back up and takes a long deep breath. Then gets into his drawing stance. He will have to rely on the strength of his blade and his own blinding speed.
“Ah, you intend to get me in one single strike, you’re relying on the strength of your blade to launch one single attack, but your logic is flawed. Your brains will be splattered before your blade ever reaches my body. Interesting, I accept your challenge” Mecmed says and laughs at it all
Attonnan takes off with his charge using all that is left of his strength to give him the speed he needs. When he is close enough he lets loose with his draw putting everything he has behind it, Mecmed blocks with a downward strike As soon as he sees his opening though Attonnan slips away slicing the wrist of Mecmed making his drop his blade. Seeing that Mecmed is unarmed Attonnan wastes no time and slams his blade straight into Mecmed’s chest. Mecmed takes a step back but then only reaches up and pulls the blade free.
“This is the first time I have been so deeply gored by the sword of a human.” Mecmed says with a laugh and then steps back.
With huge roar he changes right in front of Attonnan’s eyes. His skin becomes a dark gray, the color of charcoal. His body grows to half again its size and from out of his shoulders sprouts two bone like spikes, more bone like spikes come out of his spine and he begins to grow a lizard like tail with the same spines. His legs then begin to contort and shift so it looks like a large four-legged beast is now standing on two legs, from out of his fingertips forms large eagle like talons. His face then begins to contort to that of a huge lizard like creature with the elongated snout, From out of his head sprouts two hours that go straight out from the side then curve to the front like a bulls, then front the top of his head two more horns sprout out curving around over and behind the first set then continue curving like that of a rams horns.
“Through out my years of slaughtering you are the first one who has wounded me like this. Now this is getting exiting, you have made my blood boil as it has not boiled in many years. To feel like this again, to reach an opponent like you the past 300 years I have lived for this, now fight with me, you must not let me down” Mecmed says his voice now like some thunderous beast.
But Attonnan is too stunned at the new form to move and with one punch from the new Mecmed he is knocked to the ground.
“It’s impossible, there is no way a monster like this can exist, not in the real world,” Attonnan says trying to gather his senses.
Undeterred by his new challenge Attonnan soon gets to his feet and waits. Just like he thought the beast changes at him but the new form is slower but only by a fraction of a second. That is all he needs however and once the beast is close enough Attonnan drops and rolls to the ground were the beasts has thrown his blade. Mecmed then slams into the Wall having missed Attonnan, the room rumbles with the impact and turning around Mecmed sees Attonnan standing, his eyes blazing with hate and determination. Mecmed lets out a bellows laugh and charges again, his head down ready to gore his opponent with his horns. Like the last time Attonnan waits for his moment, then like the last time he rolls out of the way but not as far this time. With speed only Attonnan has he gets back to his feet and slams his blade into the beast side letting the momentum of the beast to turn it into a huge gash. Mecmed howls out in fury and pain and backhands Attonnan and once more he is slammed into a wall. More blood pours out of his mouth and now nose as he lets out several coughs. He cannot help but drop to his knees using his blade to hold him up.
“What are you doing, giving up. Is this the limit to your strength, is that it. I suppose you have done admirable for a human. But if you cannot fight any more then I shall tear you limb from limb” Mecmed says and with lightening reflexes snatches Attonnan from the ground making him drop his blade.
Mecmed then holds him in front of him in both hand, each hand holding his arms. Then slowly he begins to pull on the arms doing exactly what he said he was going to do, tear him apart. Attonnan screams in pain as the torture begins. But the moment is stopped short as Mecmed screams in pain and drops Attonnan, something has pierced his back. He spins to find Griffin, his arm still bleeding from the fight with Attonnan but a new blade in hand.
“Griffin” Attonnan says weakly
“In excusable, I will forgive no one who interrupts our fight.�
� Mecmed says snarling at the new opponent.
With a roar he lowers his head and charges at Griffin, the power and speed are far too much for Griffin to stand against wounded like he is. All he can do is drop and roll out of the way. As he opens his eyes once again Griffin finds himself beside Attonnan.
“Griffin, run, it’s wrong, why did you come” Attonnan says trying to gather his senses again.
“You can complain all you want once we escape” Griffin says with a smile.
“It can’t be, how can this possible be happening” Attonnan says trying to wrap his mind around this new demon and how he is walking the earth.
“I can still hear your heart beat, you must fight on, fight on until your body is ripped apart.” Mecmed says staring right at Attonnan
“Can you move” Griffin asks looking at his new friend.
“I’ll die if I don’t” Attonnan says taking his fallen blade back into his hand.
“Good, take the right” Griffin says smiling.
They watch as Mecmed balls up both of his fists and goes down for one massive blow. Just before he hits though both of them dart out of the way, Attonnan going right and Griffin going left, both of them catching him off his guard and slashing his side. Mecmed then spins and slams into Griffin with a backhanded blow slamming him into a wall, blood splatters out of his mouth and he falls unconscious
“Griffin” Attonnan growls in anger, this man came to save his life, he will not allow this monster to take his life.
“What a glorious battle this has been. Amazing, I have found two men who were able to wound me.” Mecmed says letting his hand pass over the new wounds.
Mecmed then catches sight of Attonnan getting a second wind and quickly slams him with a fist almost embedding him into the stone floor.
“Oh what a shame I shall have to destroy the both of you at once.” Mecmed says laughing as he walks over to the unconscious Griffin.
“Griffin get up,” Attonnan says weakly as he looks up.
“I’ll take this one first.” He says and then lifts his head in one glorious roar of victory.
This is too much for Attonnan and tapping into reserves of strength he didn’t know he had he gets to his feet, sheaths his blade and charges, The roar hides the sound of his charge and before Mecmed can do anything The blade sinks deep into the back of the knee slashing at the tendons making the beast drop to his knees. Attonnan keeps the charge going until he gets to the wall, then like some mythical titan of old he runs part of the way up the wall and leaps at the beast, flying at him like a bullet. The look of shock stays on the face of Mecmed as Attonnan’s blade bites deep into his throat, carving a path all the way though until the head falls gently off the shoulders killing it for good. Attonnan then drops to the ground on one knee his blade holding him up. Then just like that his eyes roll back in his head and he collapses, the battle is done, the demon is dead. The Kainith elves will leave with their leader dead and all is now well. He can finally rest.
Epilogue
Attonnan turns to watch the early mourning sun crest over the sky. The sky turns a bright pink; the sight of it over looking the entire Ronin lands brings a smile to his face. But there is still much to do. Mecmed was defeated almost a month ago, his brother now taking the time to heal, they have asked for him, but he has made sure that they couldn’t find him. He is sure that if Neckity wanted to find him she would have but he can only guess that she sensed his unwillingness to talk to them and has left him alone. Shaking his head he continues up the stairs, up to the dwarven priestess home. He cannot put his finger on why he feels so uncomfortable at this time of peace but he hopes she can tell him. Deep down he feels that something is missing, he’s not sure what it is but he hopes she can tell him.
It doesn’t take him long to get to the Dwarven Priestess temple. A simple structure of stone pillars and a triangular roof. Like the last time she say him she is dressed in a simple red cloak that hides everything but this time her hood is pulled down and he can see that she is ancient looking, as if as the mountain sprang her into existences not much longer then itself. Like before there is a small fire before her but this time next to it is a huge bowl filled with water. The bowl looks large enough for Attonnan to lay in and enjoy a hot bath, although he is positive that is not it’s purpose, at least he doesn’t think so. She smiles to see Attonnan is the one that returned to her and sits behind the fire then gestures for Attonnan to follow her example. He smiles and sits across from her, remembering how scared he was the last time he was here. She smiles at him as the two sit there in silence for a moment.
“You come cause you are unsettled, restless,” She says smiling at him.
“Yes” Attonnan replies, there is no reason to lie to her, she would know it anyway.
“You wonder where you fit, where you go,” She says more of a statement then a question.
“Yes” Attonnan says lowering his head.
“Gaze into my stone basin, and see what you need to” She says and gesturers to the huge basin of water.
Attonnan shifts himself so that he is now sitting in front of the basin; slowly he lowers his head to look into it. At first all he sees is his reflection, but than he begins to hear the priestess chant and the water begins to ripple and reflect more colors then he knew existed. Soon it settles and the scene in front of him is not the background of the temple. It is in the castle, the courtyard. Mellyruna is standing in the corner of the courtyard right in front of a huge bolder that comes up to his chest. He watches as Mellyruna pulls out his sword, the huge beast of a weapon and then holds it with the blade in the other hand, admiring it.
“Dragons blood, my greatest friends through all this,” He says letting his hand gently stroke the blade
Then with a spin and a slight flourish he raises the blade above his head, pointing the tip down. Then without hesitation he plunges the blade into the bolder. Sparks and screeching sounds fill the air as the blade sinks so deep that only a foot below the hilt now shows. He smiles and then grips it testing to see if he can pull it from the stone, the blade has no give, the stone has embraced it as part of itself.
“Your job is done, as is this era, rest my friend. I no longer need to fight to find my soul, I have found it,” He says staring at the blade now logged deep in the stone.
Almost as if on cue Ishtar slowly approaches from behind. She watches him for a moment before slowly approaching further then laying a hand gently on his shoulder. Mellyruna slowly turns to her and the two lock in a deep and passionate kiss. Slowly she gently takes Mellyruna’s hand and moves it across her body tell it rests on her stomach. At this Mellyruna breaks the kiss and gazes at her in confusion. She only smiles at him and his eyes light up with joy. Attonnan seeing all this in the basin knows exactly what it means, He is a father now, his life as the warrior he was is over now. His soul is not in the blade, but in his wife and soon his children.
A sad smile drifts across Attonnan’s face as the water begins to ripple once again contorting the image and slowly making way for another. Attonnan watches as the image takes from before him. It is the sunrise, along a lake. He knows the lake well, it is only a few miles away from the castle, he and his brothers used to go swimming in it all the time. This time however he sees a couple walking the edge of the lake holding each other’s hands. It is Griffin, his wounds still wrapped; he had taken more damage then most of the others. Next to him is his second in command Lucrainzia Noin. They walk for a bit in silence then Griffin catching his foot on some loose rock stumbles and goes to fall but Noin catches him and gently pulls him back to his feet. The two stare at each other and Griffin begins to chuckle.
“Thank you, if not for you I would have never made it this far,” Griffin says and Attonnan watches as Noin’s face flushes.
The two of them then turn to look as the sun rises at the shore, it paints the sky a bright
pink then orange, the lake reflects the like the waves making it twinkle and sparkle, it is like the new era being born in fire.
“Beautiful” Noin says smiling at it.
“Like you” Griffin says turning to her.
Again Noin looks at him and then her face flushes once more. She is not used to this side of him. Though she has always hoped that he would show it to her
“Griffin, this road we are about to travel is a long one, and a hard one, shall we travel it together” She says and looks at him hopefully.
“Of course” he says and the two lock in a sweet embrace.
Again the water ripples and again the scene begins to face and distort, making way for his next image. The next one comes quicker then the last. It is a scene of men walking down the streets doing their daily business. Soon he sees seven people begin to walk down. Four of them he knows, His sister Maeraer on the arms of her lover and husband Nagamasa, then Byrdi with his love at his arms, Neckity. Next to Neckity are two children; there skin pitch black and their hair white, white tattoos are on the arms of the older of the two kids. He can only assume these are the children Neckity had or found before Byrdi, At Nagamasa’s side is little Lucious, Lucious seems to be deep in conversation with the oldest of the black skinned children. The four adults look around and smile chatting away animatedly.
“I cannot believe I would live to see this day. The Kainith elves defeated, The Hitori, Oda and Unagi clans all united under one family.” Nagamasa says shaking his head.
“Indeed, does anyone think they shall see such an epic moment in history” Byrdi says smiling and kisses Neckity on the cheek.
“Finally I can live a life of peace, no more traveling to distant lands and fighting enemies I don’t know” Nagamasa says calmly
“You wish, I don’t know about you but I have Higen and Toshiie, my life will be anything but peaceful,” Byrdi says with a boisterous laugh.
